Are You Struggling After a Concussion?

As an adventure sport athlete, you’re used to pushing your limits and embracing the wild. But when a concussion sidelines you, you’re facing a new type of uncertainty with limitations you aren’t accustomed to. The key is learning to work with where you’re at right now, developing strategies to support your brain as it heals while you navigate the nitty-gritty of life, while steadily working towards actively rehabilitating your brain’s many functions and returning to the life and outdoor pursuits you love.

The old advice to rest in a dark room after concussion until your symptoms subside is just that – old. And incorrect. The past decade of research has shown that concussion is a rehabilitative injury, and early therapeutic intervention can prevent persistent symptom development. If your concussion happened months or even years ago, however, and you do have persistent symptoms, it’s not too late: recent research and dedicated clinicians have proven that the brain is capable of significant improvement even years after the injury. 

I specialize in integrative concussion coaching: weaving together rehabilitation, management, and mentorship into a coaching program designed specifically for outdoor athletes like you. I’m a doctoral-educated physical therapist who’s a seasoned professional and a lifelong adventure athlete, and I’ve crafted this integrative program to help guide you through your recovery and into optimal brain-body health.

I’ve been there too…

In 2020, my life took an unexpected turn when I experienced a life-changing concussion in a high speed mountain bike crash. As an athlete and therapist, I was well-acquainted with the challenges of rehabilitation—but nothing could have prepared me for the profound impact of what was classified as a “mild” traumatic brain injury. Navigating my own recovery journey was both eye-opening and transformative as I struggled with persistent symptoms for over four years.

Through countless hours of rehabilitation and personal reflection, I gained an intimate understanding of the complexities involved in recovering from a concussion and the compounding effects of repetitive head injuries, as this was my fourth, but the first that persisted beyond the acute phase. This experience fueled my determination to combine my professional expertise as a physical therapist with my hard-earned personal insights to help others facing similar challenges.

Starting in early 2024, I have now completed (and am still immersed in) 20 months and counting of intensive concussion specialty training and clinical mentorship that has come from three different programs, focused on advancing my knowledge and skills in this critical field. This post-graduate level education is grounded in cutting-edge scientific research and taught by multidisciplinary researchers and clinicians on the front lines of advancing concussion medicine. Through these programs I have been taught and mentored by concussion experts from both the conventional/western medicine world and those who come from a holistic/functional medicine/naturopathic background. This well-rounded education has equipped me with the most up-to-date techniques and strategies to address every aspect of concussion recovery — and I’m not stopping anytime soon. The training I’ve done has been much more than your average weekend continuing education course: to say I am passionate about helping people with concussions is an understatement.

Coincidentally, I experienced two additional concussions in 2024 due to freak accidents (not sport-related). Armed with my updated expertise, I managed my own recovery in a much more productive and proactive way than I did back in 2020 before I knew what I know now — and the differences have been remarkable.

Whether you recently experienced a concussion or you’ve been dealing with symptoms for way too long, I’d love to leverage what I’ve learned to help make a difference for you as well, with specialized rehabilitation and supportive mentorship.

Why Work With Me?

1. Expertise Rooted in Experience

Yes, I have education and expertise in concussion rehabilitation as a healthcare provider—and I’ve also lived it on your side of the table. With years of experience both as a physical therapist and as an adventure athlete, I understand the unique challenges and demands that come with recovering from a concussion and trying to get back to our regular lives and our passion of moving our bodies in the outdoors. My personal journey with concussions has given me invaluable insights and empathy, and I’d love to guide you through your recovery.

2. Tailored Rehabilitation

I know that every person’s journey is unique, and every concussion is unique: there are eight key systems affected by concussion, and the degree to which each of these systems are impacted is different for everyone. That’s why this program is designed to address your specific needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with dizziness, balance issues, sleep issues, fatigue, emotional dysregulation, exercise intolerance, or vision challenges, our sessions provide personalized integrative care and strategies to help you heal effectively and return to your adventures.

3. Comprehensive Virtual and Hybrid Support

Access engaging, effective concussion care from the comfort of your home with our fully virtual program. Having an online platform offers flexible scheduling, interactive sessions, and real-time feedback between sessions, so you can continue your recovery without interrupting your daily life or having to use up precious energy navigating traffic to drive to a clinic. If you are local to the Tucson, AZ area or to northwest Washington State, depending on the season there may be possibilities for a hybrid in-person/virtual approach — contact me for details.

4. Mentorship Beyond Rehab

Rehabilitation is just the beginning. A concussion can disrupt your entire life, for weeks or even months to years for the ~30% of people who develop persistent symptoms, and it can be tough to navigate. Even as a physical therapist, prior to experiencing this myself I had no idea of the havoc a concussion could wreak on one’s life, career, and relationships — my previous three concussions had been textbook quick recoveries — and I lost nearly everything in that first year. I had very little support and guidance for this part of the process, and it was tough. Now on the other side, I’m committed to providing that support and guidance along with my rehabilitative expertise, so you don’t have to fumble around in confusion like I did while trying to get your life back. This is a piece you won’t get with conventional rehab.

A Holistic Approach to Concussion Recovery

This concussion rehabilitation and mentorship program combines post-doctoral-level education, cutting-edge scientific research, and my personal lived experience to provide comprehensive support. We address all eight systems that are often disrupted in head injury, plus the additional mentorship piece:

• Physiologic: Restoration of autonomic nervous system health and function (the ANS regulates cardiovascular control, digestion, temperature regulation, and other involuntary bodily processes)

• Metabolic: Helping to heal the brain and gut from inflammation and dysfunction caused by the structural neuronal (nerve cell) injury of concussion.

• Orthopedic: Healing of structural musculoskeletal injuries and pain; usually in the neck, may be other areas as well.

• Visual: Improvement of visual processing, oculomotor control, and related symptoms.

• Vestibular: Recovery from dizziness and balance/equilibrium issues.

• Emotional: Support for mental health, emotional well-being, and nervous system regulation. Re-integration of the mind and body.

• Cognitive: Enhancement of cognitive function and clarity.

• Sleep: An element often overlooked but frequently disrupted in concussion that needs to be optimized for healing.

• Mentorship: Guidance and support for managing the complexities of post-concussion life and recovery.

[notice I didn’t mention headaches, so often present in concussion? This is because headaches are a symptom of dysfunction in one or several of these systems, rather than their own domain. Addressing the underlying cause will address the headaches along with other symptoms related to these root causes.]

My goal is to guide you through a supportive return to health and to the outdoors, ensuring you’re prepared to embrace your next adventure with confidence and strength. If during our work together I feel that you would benefit from having other specialists involved with your care in a multidisciplinary approach (if you’re not seeing other providers already), or if I feel you would benefit from any specific interventions that would best be completed in-person, I will discuss this with you and make appropriate recommendations or referrals. If you have questions about this, please ask.

Ready to Start Moving Forward?

Don’t let a concussion take over your life and steal everything you love. Send me a note and take the first step toward a complete and confident recovery.